Load bracing device



Oct. 6, 1931. I g, CHANDLER 1,825,992

LOAD BRACING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6 1931.-c. A. CHANDLER LOAD BRACING DEVICE Filed Aug. 1e, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheetflu-.

Oct. 6, 1931.

C. A. CHANDLER LOAD BRACING DEVICE Filed Aug.

16, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m mQwNw/ mm mm MN Patented Oct. 6 1931 CHARLIEA. CHANDLER, OF WAPATO, WASI-IIN GTO1\T, ASSIGNOB OF EIGHTY-FIVE ONE-HUNDREDTHS T CHANDLER EQUIPMENT (30., A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON, ANDFIFTEEN ONE-HUNDBEDTHS TO LEONARD O. COCKRILL LOAD BBACING DEVICEApplication filed August 16, 182

' refrigerator cars, although of course, it may be adapted to other usesshould the occasion require.

In my copending application Serial No. 263,542 I disclosed a loadbracing device adapted to be built substantially permanently into a carso as to constitute a part thereof. 1 find that it is not alwaysadvisable to do this, but that owing to certain conditions with whichshippers are familiar, the use of a device which can be removed from thecar is to be preferred.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of. my present invention isthe provision of an improved portable load bracing device.

Another object is the provision of a portable load bracing devicearranged to be folded in compact form for returning to the ship- Anotherobject isthe provision of a load bracing device adapted to be used inpairs for bracing carload shipments or adapted for use in single unitsfor bracing only a portion of a shipment disposed in the end of a car.

Another object is the provision of a light portable load bracing devicewhich cannot shift upwardly with a load and so cause buckling and otherdifliculties incident to the shifting of the bracing device in avertical direction.

Another object is the provision of an improvedform of jack for applyingtension to the bulkhead portion of the bracing device, with improvedmeans for housing the jack during return transportation of the device.

Another object is the provision of a bulkhead which will brace a loadtightly but at the same time provide resilient means for absorbing theshocks incident to movement thereof.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from theconsideration of the detailed description taken with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional viewthrough a refrigerator car showing the de- Serial No. 386,438.

vice in use for bracing a full carload shipnient.

2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1 and showing oneof the bulkheads in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a face view of the bracing device employed as a single unitfor bracing a load at one end of the car.

Fig. elis a side view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing one unit of the bracing device in foldedposition, with the open position shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view corresponding to Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detailof the means for preventing vertical movement of thebulkhead.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal fragmentary plan view showing themecha-nism ofFig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the jack, partsthereof being broken away to conserve space.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged elevational view showing the manner in which thejack is housed inthe bulkhead.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 11'11 of Fig.10, but showing jack completely housed as when the bulkhead is foldedtogether, and

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the manner in which thej ackis secured for pivotal movement to the bulkhead.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the device is adaptedfor use in any usual type of refrigerator car having end partitions 21and 22, a roof, 23, and a floor (not shown) provided with floor racks24. The commodity shipped will of course vary, but in the presentdrawings I show boxes 26 which may contain crated fruit or similararticles. The bracing device comprises bulkheads A and B each providedwith a number of jacks C and anchors D for preventing vertical movementof the bulkheads. When used in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2,bulkheads operate in portions A and B constituting a unit pair and thejacks C; being so arranged on the two bulkheads as to cooperate betweenthe two. Specifically the jacks are arranged so that the pivotalconnection of the jack to one bulkhead is di- 5 rectly opposite theattaching means in the other bulkhead, so that all of the jacks on thebulkheads (9 are shown) will be put to use. The jacks are also arranged(Figs. 3 and 4) so that they may be braced against -the floor, side,walls or ceiling of the car where only a single bulkhead is used tobrace a small load in the end of the car. The manner in which theconnections are made will be determined largely by the type of load andother conditions having to do therewith. The showing of Figs. 3 and 4for these reasons is purely illustrative.

Now as to the construction of the various arts of the device I shallrefer first to the ulkhead per se. The bulkhead includes a plurality ofsingle piece uprights 27 of general channel cross-section and aplurality of horizontal connecting and bracing members, 28, 29 and 31.The uprights 27 are seven in number although more or less may be usedshould it be found desirable. I have employed seven in this constructionbecause it would be used principally for shipping fruit and the standardtypes of containers are all of such size that better bracing can beobtained with this number.

The uprights are secured to the horizontal or cooperating pieces in anysuitable way. In the present construction side flanges 27a are providedon the vertical members and these flanges are either welded or rivetedto the web of the cross pieces. This places the web or widest portion ofthe upright channels in contact with the load thereby forming a largebearing surface which will not cut, break or injure the containers inany way under ordinary load conditions.

For folding the bulkhead each one of the cross members 28, 29 and 31 isfolded in three pieces secured together by hinges 32. The various setsof hinges are aligned vertically so that the side portions of thebulkhead hinge as a unit for closing completely as shown in Figs. 5 and6. The hinges are arranged and designed to break in only one directionso that when the bulkhead is open the side pieces can not be extendedbeyond a position parallel and in line with the center section. Sincethe web of the cross pieces is in contact with the uprights the jacksare housed within the channel portion of the cross pieces as shown inFig. 4. The details of the arrangement and the construction of the jackswill be referred to later.

When the bulkhead has been folded with the jacks housed therein the sidepieces are secured in place by latches 33 (Fig. 5). These latches aredesigned to have some spring tension so that when closed they willremain in position.

I shall consider now the details of the jack as shown in Figs. 9 to 12inclusive. The jack is made up of three telescoping sections, 34, 36 and37 with a screw 38, adapted to telei,s25,99a

scope with respect to the member 37, this ar= rangement being employedto permit the jack being reduced in length so that it can be housed inthe folded bulkhead. First, with regard to telescoping these members, acollar 39 is provided on the member 34, this collar extending down intothe member 34 as shown at 39a and having a bayonet slot 41 (2 areprovided). A pin 42, carried by the tubular member 36, is adapted toengage in the bayonet slot. This engagement is made by drawing themember out, making a partial turn of the member 36 and then allowing thepin 42 to slide down until the bayonet portion of the slot 41a isengaged by the pin 42. Simil'arly, the tubular member 36 has a collar 43equipped with a bayonet slot 44, adapted to be engaged by a pin 46carried by the member 37. At the outside end of the member 37, a tubularblock 47 is secured, to receive the threaded bolt or screw 38. Forregulating the position of the bolt 38 with respect to the block 47, anut 48 is provided, with a lock nut 49 for maintaining the position ofthe nut 48 when adjusted. These nuts are provided with openings 48a and49a, respectively, for engagement with a suitable tool, in order toapply the necessary tension.

In securing the jack to the bulkhead, I provide a construction whichwill permit the necessary quasi universal movement of the jack withrespect to the bulkhead, while still maintaining requisite strength andrigidity at the connection, the construction also being arranged so thatadequate resiliency is imparted to the bracing, with the result thatunusual shocks are absorbed.

The connection proper to the bulkhead is by means of a special hingemember 51 in the shape of a. forging, this member being either riveted,bolted, or welded, preferably the latter, to the inside web of the crossmember. A cooperating hinge member 52, of general tubular character, isalso provided, with a pin 53 extending across the same and engaging inan arcuate slot 54, extending through part of an arcuately shapedprojection 56 from the member 51.

In connecting the tubular telescoping member 34 to. the hinge member 52,the member 34 is provided with slots 57-57, into which pins 5858,carried by the member 52, extend. The hinge member 52 is provided with aclosed end 52a, against which a compression spring 59 bears, theopposite end of the compression spring engaging a stop 61 on the insideof the member 34. This stop, as shown, is in the form of a ring weldedto the inside surface of the tubular member. The slots 57 permitrelative movement between the hinge member 52 and the telescoping member34; the reasons for this arrangement and the operation of which will beexplained hereinafter- The opposite or free end of the jack is adaptedto be secured either to the opposite bulkhead, or to a brace suitablyarranged on the floor, sides orceiling of the refrigerator car. The jackis arranged so that it can be utilized in either way. In the form shown,the end of the bolt 38 extends into a boss 62, formed on an angularmember 63. This member is shaped with the two inside surfaces at anangle to each other, preferably about 90 degrees, and such insidesurfaces will engage an angular lug or projection 64 on the oppositecross member 28. This projection 64 is in the form of a forgingorcasting and is preferably welded to the inside web of the channel. Itis provided with a headed pin 66, this pin extending into a slot 67,carried by the angular connecting member 63, the head of the pin 66extending beyond the slot, so that direct retractive movement cannotbreak the connection. The parts are assembled, of course, by sliding themember 63 with respect to the member 64, so that the shank of the pinengages in the slot 67. The construction of the bolt 38 with respect tothe boss 62 may vary, depending upon the method of manufacture. The bossmay be made as a part of the screw 38, and the angular portion 63secured thereto, or the boss 62 and member 63 may be formed as a singleunit, and the bolt 38 secured in a suitably provided cylindrical recessin the boss 62.

In order to prevent rattling, etc., of the jacks within the housingprovided by the members 28, I provide leaf springs 6868 which areriveted or otherwise secured to the inside of the channel and shaped sothat the jack may be readily inserted therebetween, or may be quicklyremoved, when used, without the use of latches or other mechanicalmeans. This arrangement also holds the jacks in place, should it bedesirable to employ only a portion of the jacks when bracing aparticular car of merchandise.

I wish to refer again to the hinge connection between the jacks and thebulkhead.

The construction shown permits as great movement of the ack about itshinge as will be required in the operation thereof. Fig. 12 shows theextreme downward position of the jack and it will be noticed that theangle is greater than will be required at anytime when employing thestyle of bracing shown in Fig. 4. Sideways movement of the jack withrespect to the bulkhead is limited only i by contact with the bulkhead;that is to say,

the ack may be moved in a horizontal direction through 180 degrees.Toprevent any possibility of binding when tension is applied to thejack, the member 34 is cut away at 34a, and the member 52 is cut awayat- 5272. This cut away construction is at both sides of these members,so that the full movement of the jack can take place either to right orleft. While adequate downward movement can'be obtained without specialprovision, the lower flange of the channel member 28 may be cut awayslightly at 69.

Now, as. to preventing vertical movement of the bulkhead, this may beaccomplished, in general, by making use either of the floor or theceiling. In my present design, I attach the bulkhead to the floor racks,because I have found that I can provide a consider ably lighterconstruction in this way. Two floor clamps D are provided, in the designshown, for each bulkhead section, but a greater or lesser number can beused. I shall describe one of these jacks, since the construction of allof them will be uniform.

On the lowermost cross piece 31, preferably, a lug 71 is secured byrivets or bolts 7272. This lug has a vertical threaded bore throughwhich a threaded bolt 73 extends, with locking and adjusting nuts 74 and76 above and below the lug. The lower end of the bolt 73 is providedwith means for attaching it to the floor boards 24. The arrangementemployed includes an upper clamping member 77 and a lower clampingmember 78, the collar 79 being secured to the lower end of the bolt toserve as a support for the member 7 8. This member has an offset portionor foot 7 8a extending under the floor board, while the member 77 has asimilar foot 77a extending above the floor board. The nut 81 is threadedon the bolt 7 3 and can be tightened down to clamp the members 77 and 78together and so fasten them securely to the floor board. In order toprovide a range of adjustments for the floor clamp, the bolt 73 isformed with an ofiset 82. This is advisable because the position of thebulkheads with respect to thefloor boards will vary, and by means of.this offset the clamps can be extended over a range of adjustments equalto twice the length of the offset portion 82. This permits the bulkheadsto be attachedto the floor boards independent of their positions withrespect thereto.

I shall now illustrate one manner of employing the device, so that thefeatures thereof will be made clear to those skilled in the art. Assumethat a refrigerator car is to be loaded with a carload lot of boxed orcrated fruit. The load is placed in the ends of the car up to thedoorway (the exact distance will depend on the interior dimensions ofthe car and size of crates), care being taken, of course, to pack theboxes as close together as possible longitudinally. WVhen the loadinghas been completed, the bracing devices, consisting of a unit of twobulkheads with their jacks, is brought into the car and the bulkheadsplaced against the ends of the load. The latches 33 are removed and thebulkheads opened to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Thejacks are then connected, the manner of connecting depending upon thedistance between the bulkheads. If they are close together, it may benecessary to employ only one of the telescoping members; but if they area distance apart, equal approximately to the width of the doorway, thejacks will have to be opened their full length, not considering the bolt38 at the present time. The bolt 38 can then be withdrawn as far asnecessary, in order to make the connection to the opposite bulkhead andinsert the pin 66 in the slot 67. In this position, no tensionwhatsoever has been applied to the spring 59 and the nuts 48 and 49 havenot been turned. When the jacks are in position in this manner, the nut48 is turned up by hand until it engages against the collar 17 and takesup most of the slack in the jack itself. A suitable tool, such as a boltor the like, is then inserted in the opening 48a, and the nut 48 drawnup tightly, so as to force the bulkheads firmly and rigidly against theload. Care should be taken, in tensioning the nuts 48, to equalize themovement over the entire bulkhead ,-that is, the tension graduallyincreased on all of the nuts, rather than applying full tension on onenut and then proceeding to the others. The tension should not be sogreat as to take up all of the slack in the spring 4C9. This spring ismade quite heavy, so that, although it is under some compression withthe load normally braced, it will not be collapsed, but the finalcompression will be applied thereto, if at all, by severe shocks orjolts applied to the load during rough handling of the car. \Vhen all ofthe nuts L8 are drawn up with proper tension, the lock nuts 49 aretightened and the adjustment of the jacks is completed.

At any suitable time, either before or after the jacks are finallytensioned, the floor clamps are secured to the floor boards. This 'isaccomplished by turning the offset portion of the bolt 73 to a positionso that the foot 78a of the clamp 78 can be extended under a floorboard. The nut 7% is then drawn up tightly enough to cause the clamp 78ato engage snugly against the underneath surface of the floor board. Theclamp 77 is then placed in position and the nut 81 drawn up to force thefoot 77a down against the top surface of the floor board and also toincrease the tension between the foot 78a and the bottom of the floorboard. In this manner, the floor board is gripped firmly by the clamp.The nut 7 6 is drawn up tightly also, thus serving further to lock thebolt 73 and stabilize the connection throughout. lVith all of the floorboards clamped in position, and the jacks in position, the car can bemade ready for shipment.

Removing the bracing device from the car is accomplished, substantially,by reversing the process of applying it to the car. Vhile still in thecar, the bulkheads should be folded together so that they can be removedeasily from the car and returned to the shipper, or handled in any otherWay, as conditions warrant at the time. Itwill be noticed that the sidemembers of the bulkhead are half the width of the middle portionthereof, so that when the side members are folded in against the middleportion they lie together along the middle portion and entirely housethe jacks. This produces an easily portable package which can readily bechanged back .to the place of first use.

I have described many details of my invention, in order that thoseskilled in the art may have a complete understanding thereof. I do notrestrict myself, however, to the details shown and described, theinvention being limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is 1. In a load bracing device a bulkhead, bracing meanssecured to the bulkhead and means for folding the bulkhead and housingthe bracing means.

2. In a load bracing device, for a refrigerator car having the usualfloor racks, a bulkhead, means for bracing the bulkhead against theload, and adjustable means for securing the bulkhead to the floor racksfor preventing vertical movement thereof.

3. In a load bracing device, for a refrigerator car equipped with theusual floor racks, a bulkhead, a floor clamp for attachment to the floorracks and means forming a part of the floor clamp for adjusting the sameto engage the floor rack independent of the position of the bulkheadwith respect thereto.

4. In aload bracing device, a bulkhead and a floor clamp with anadjustable connection with respect thereto.

5. A load bracing device as defined in claim 4, wherein said floor clampincludes a bolt with threaded connection to the bulkhead, an offsetportion for adjustment purposes, a bottom clamp including two clampingmembers, and means for applying clamping ten- SlOIl to said members.

6. In a load bracing device a bulkhead and a bracing jack pivot-allyconnected thereto, said jack including a plurality of telescopingmembers with their alternate ends provided with bayonet slots and pinsfor engaging in the slots, a threaded bolt telescoping into the farthestextending telescoping member, means for adjusting the position of thebolt with respect to said telescoping member, and means on the end ofthe bolt for connecting to an opposite lmlkhead.

7. The combination described in claim 6, wherein said means forconnecting to an opposite bulkhead includes an angular member on the endof the bolt and an angular projection on said bulkhead, the angularmember on the bolt being also adapted to engage suitably providedmembers on the floor, sides or ceiling of a car.

8. In a load bracing device a bulkhead,

and a bracing jack connected thereto, said jack including a pair ofhinge members one secured to the bulkhead, a slide connection betweenthe jack and the moving hinge member, and a compression springinterposed between such members to absorb load shocks.

9. In a load bracing device a bulkhead, an adjustable jack riveted tothe bulkhead, means for connecting the outer end of the jack to anopposite bulkhead, and resilient compression means forming a part of thejack to take up load shocks, said compression means being under partialcompression when the jack is adjusted in position.

10. In a load bracing device a bulkhead formed of channel members, ajack pivoted to the bulkhead on the inside of one of said channelmembers, means for folding the jack back to lie within the channel,means within the channel for supporting the jack in folded position, andmeans for folding the bulkhead to bring two channels into contiguousfacing position so that the jack is completely housed thereby.

11. In a load bracing device a bulkhead formed of channel members, a ackpivoted to the bulkhead on the inside of one of said channel members,means for folding the jack back to lie within the channel, means withinthe channel for supporting the jack in folded position, and means forfolding the bulkhead to bring two channels into contiguous facingposition so that the jack is completely housed thereby, and means forfastening the bulkhead in its folded position to produce a. portablepackage with the jacks entirely concealed and with the outside of thechannel members only exposed to view.

12. In a load bracing device av bulkhead having a plurality of singlepiece uprights, a plurality of three part cross-pieces joined by hingesin vertical alignment, the side pieces being substantially half thewidth of the center pieces so that they can be folded over the centerpieces and have their side edges contiguous, and latch means formaintaining the side pieces in such folded position.

13. In a load bracing device a bulkhead having a plurality of singlepiece uprights, a plurality of three part channel cross-pieces securedtogether with hinges in vertical alignment so that the bulkhead includesa center portion and side portions all equipped with uprights, aplurality of jacks pivoted to the channel cross-pieces and adapted to befolded into the channels, and means for folding the hinged side portionsof the bulkhead over the center portion to completely house the jacks.

14. In a load bracing device a pair of bulkheads foldable along avertical axis and having cross-pieces formed of channel members, aplurality of bracing jacks pivoted in the channel portion of eachbulkhead. and means for securing the free end of the acks to theopposite bulkhead so that direct retractive movement is not effective todissociate the jack and bulkhead.

15. A load bracing device as defined in claim 14 wherein said jacks areadjustable in length having a plurality of telescoping members with asliding connection therebetween, and have a compression spring at one ofsaid sliding connections for equalizing load shocks.

16. A load bracing device as defined in claim 14 wherein the jacks arefoldable against the channels so as to be housed by the folding of thebulkhead, the relative positions of the various jacks being such thatall of them may be so housed.

17. A load bracing device as definied in claim 14 with means secured tothe bulkheads for preventing vertical movement thereof while in loadbracing position.

18. In a load bracing device, a pair of foldable bulkheads, jackssecured tothe bulkheads for interconnection between them when in loadbracing position, and adapted to be housed by the bulkheads when infolded position, and means connected to the bulkheads for preventingvertical movement of the bulkheads when in load bracing position.

19. In a load bracing device, a pair of foldable bulkheads, eachbulkhead comprising a middle section, and side sections half the widthof the middle section so as to lie side by side against the middlesection when folded, jacks secured to the bulkheads, and means securedto the middle section of the bulkheads for preventing vertical movementthereof, whereby installing said bulkheads in a load bracing position isfacilitated.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day ofAugust, 1929.

CHARLIE A. CHANDLER.

